Cutaneous amebiasis in pediatrics.
BACKGROUND
Cutaneous amebiasis (CA), which is still a health problem in developing countries, is important to diagnose based on its clinical and histopathologic features.


METHODS
Retrospective medical record review of 26 patients with CA (22 adults and 4 children) treated from 1955 to 2005 was performed. In addition to the age and sex of the patients, the case presentation, associated illness or factors, and method of establishing the diagnosis, clinical pictures and microscopic slides were also analyzed.


CONCLUSIONS
Cutaneous amebiasis always presents with painful ulcers. The ulcers are laden with amebae, which are relatively easy to see microscopically with routine stains. Erythrophagocytosis is an unequivocal sign of CA. Amebae reach the skin via 2 mechanisms: direct and indirect. Amebae are able to reach the skin if there is a laceration (port of entry) and if conditions in the patient are favorable. Amebae are able to destroy tissues by means of their physical activity, phagocytosis, enzymes, secretagogues, and other molecules.
Magaña
Mario L
ML
Hospital General de México and School of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico. dermatopatología@hotmail.com
Fernández-Díez
Jorge
J
Magaña
Mario
M
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003906:Developing Countries; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012876:Skin Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy
D000977:Antiparasitic Agents